Managing Ageing Offshore Assets: Adapting for Net-Zero

Matthew P. Neal: Energy Transition Coordinator, North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA)

Matthew is a chartered Chemical Engineer by background with over twenty four years’ experience in the upstream oil & gas industry and CCUS, including engineering discipline, project delivery, asset operations, and maintenance management positions at Amec, BP, Serica Energy, and the NSTA.

Rebecca Allison: Chief Operating Officer, Net Zero Technology Centre

Rebecca Allison is an established and committed leader in the energy sector, spearheading efforts to accelerate the transition to net zero. As Chief Operations Officer at the Net Zero Technology Centre (NZTC), she leads the delivery of critical technology programmes and services that will drive industry's evolution towards a more sustainable future.

With over two decades of experience, Rebecca has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. This includes identifying and appraising existing technology readiness, and championing the latest advancements in innovations that are reducing emissions from existing facilities and unlocking the full potential of an integrated energy system.

As a highly driven and motivated leader, Rebecca is known for her strategic planning and communication skills, which she uses to manage even the most complex projects.

Outside work Rebecca spends most of her time at the Ellon Scout Hut, coaching and mentoring over 80 young people in developing their outdoor skills. If she’s not camping in all weathers then she enjoys time with her two children, her patient husband and a very mad black Labrador.

Neil Arthur: Maintenance Strategy Lead, Harbour Energy

Neil Arthur is Maintenance Strategy Lead at Harbour Energy with over 30 years’ experience in Asset Management, Maintenance and Integrity in the Energy and Maritime industries.

Dave Hutchinson: Asset Integrity Coordinator, Eni UK – Liverpool Bay Area

Dave is a Mechanical Engineer and leads the team of Integrity Engineers who manage all static mechanical equipment at Liverpool Bay, including the structures, pipework and pipelines. He has worked in the Oil and Gas industry for 30 years on refineries, gas storage sites, and petrochemical manufacturing sites, all linked to the proposed Hynet Cluster for Carbon Capture and Storage. He started work at Eni five years ago as the Topside Mechanical Integrity Engineer, when CCS was in the early stages of conception.

Matthew Barnett: Mechanical Technical Authority, CNOOC International

Matthew is the Mechanical Technical Authority at CPEL. He provides process safety leadership and technical direction to the company’s UK operated assets, oil & gas and net zero projects. Matthew has been responsible for the delivery of major capital projects and support to oil & gas operations (both onshore and offshore) for several UKCS operators. Matthew is an active participant in sharing best practice and collaborates extensively with industry work groups and bodies. Matthew is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Molly Isaacs: Energy Economy Analyst, ORE Catapult

Molly is an Energy Economy Analyst within the Analysis and Insights Team and ORE Catapult. She is responsible for industry wide thought leadership. Passionate about supporting the energy transition in all areas, Molly works closely with the Clean Maritime Team delivering insights into policy and technology drivers for O&M decarbonisation. During her early career she worked as a material research chemist, working locally and internationally on sustainable and biobased materials. Molly holds an MChem in Chemistry and MSc in Sustainable Engineering.

Ian Thomas: Principal Consultant, Sustainable Development and Regulatory Assurance, Vysus Group

Ian Thomas is a Senior Principal Consultant and technical lead for environment, sustainable development and regulatory assurance with Vysus Group (Formerly Lloyd’s Register Consulting – Energy Ltd).

• Chartered Biologist, and IEMA registered Principal Auditor with Post Grad qualifications in Business and Total Quality Management. 
• 30 years + environmental management experience with general industry, with the last 20+ years spent in oil and gas providing technical advice to operators, representative bodies and governmental organisations.

Technical and commercial focus, exploration and production, energy transition (renewables, hydrogen, CCUS), decommissioning and related industries covering:

• Emissions management and Energy Transition DataBox © (Vysus/Siccar Collaboration)
• Data assurance, AA1000, ESG Reporting and disclosure
• BAT, EIA, environmental risk management, optioneering, permitting
• Management systems
• Non-financial audit and business assurance
• Due diligence
• Research based consultancy.

Experience of industrial decarbonisation within the oil and gas industry spans two decades as a consultant and supporting LRQA as an ISO 14001 EMS lead assessor /verifier covering onshore, offshore, fixed, floating and all stages of the asset life cycle from concept, operation, late life and decommissioning 

Latterly, Ian has been leading the Vysus team with:

• the development of the Energy Transition Databox emissions management software platform, and
• the deployment of our AccountAbility AA 1000 licensed assurance service line the verification of GHG emissions and ESG disclosures.

Sakshi Sircar: Senior Project Engineer, Net Zero Technology Centre

Sakshi is a Chartered Engineer with over 10 years’ experience working in the energy industry. Originally from India, Sakshi studied in Aberdeen before graduating and starting her career as a mechanical engineer in oil and gas. Since then, Sakshi has gained valuable experience across asset integrity, capital projects, mechanical commissioning, supervising offshore, and more recently, experience in managing R&D projects for the Energy Transition. Currently, Sakshi is a Project Engineer within the Offshore Energy 4.0 Team at the Net Zero Technology Centre, working to leverage the development and deployment of robotics and digital tech to achieve a Net Zero energy system in the North Sea. She is passionate about sustainability and creating a just transition, alongside being an active STEM ambassador.

Michael  Maguire: Chief Executive Officer, Copsys

Michael Maguire is a professional engineer with international experience in offshore energy and marine transportation spanning more than 3 decades and expert knowledge of risk and safety, asset integrity, regulatory policy and compliance, innovation and technology advancement. Career highlights include: certification of offshore oil and gas new developments in the UK, Australia and Canada for Lloyd’s Register, including Canada’s first two harsh environment FPSO’s; leading innovation programs to enable remote, harsh environment operations; drafting Canada’s next-generation offshore regulations; and leading a multi-stakeholder change management process in Canada’s transition from prescriptive to performance-based regulation. Mike is currently the CEO of Copsys Technologies Inc.

Nadir Azam: Management Consultant – Substructures, Vattenfall

Michael Jepsen: Civil Engineering Design Manager, Vattenfall

Lewis Harper: Project Engineer, Net Zero Technology Centre